Setting

Ms Yvette Stanley Director of Children, Schools and Families London Borough of Merton Merton Civic Centre London Road Morden Surrey SM4 5DX

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Children’s services annual rating

Ofsted guidance published in May 2009 explained that the annual rating would derive from a new performance profile of the quality of services and outcomes for children and young people in each local area. This profile includes findings from across Ofsted’s inspection and regulation of services and settings for which the council has strategic or operational responsibilities, either alone or in partnership with others, together with data from the relevant Every Child Matters indicators in the new National Indicator Set (NIS).

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Children’s services annual rating

In considering the evidence in the profile to determine the children’s services rating for 2009 it has become clear that the continuing gaps in the data are significant, particularly those relating to aspects of social care and services for Looked After Children. Ofsted has decided therefore to use 2009 as a transitional year easing into the full application of the new system in 2010. As a consequence, although the performance profile remains central to Ofsted’s rating, we have interpreted the performance bands with flexibility and exercised professional judgement with caution.

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Children’s services annual rating

The annual rating derives from a four point scale:

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Children’s services annual rating

4 Performs excellently An organisation that significantly exceeds minimum requirements 3 Performs well An organisation that exceeds minimum requirements 2 Performs adequately An organisation that meets only minimum requirements 1 Performs poorly An organisation that does not meet minimum requirements

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Children’s services annual rating

Within each level there will be differing standards of provision. For example, a rating of ‘performs excellently’ does not mean all aspects of provision are perfect. Similarly, a rating of ‘performs poorly’ does not mean there are no adequate or even good aspects. Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 40 40 40 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 020-7421-6716 Direct F 020-7421-5715 juliet.winstanley@ofsted.gov.uk

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Children’s services in the London Borough of Merton perform well.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Significantly more nurseries are good or better in comparison to the position in similar areas or nationally. Day-care provision for young children, however, is only satisfactory, with fewer good or better childminder settings by national or similar area comparisons. Most primary schools are good or better as is the case with secondary schools. However, the overall proportion of good or better secondary schools is lower than seen nationally or in similar areas, but none are inadequate. School sixth forms are strong and all were judged outstanding in recent inspections. Provision for children and young people whose circumstances makes them vulnerable is mostly good. The children’s home is outstanding and the local authority fostering agency and private fostering arrangements are good. Both the pupil referral unit and the local authority adoption agency are satisfactory. Special schools are mostly good

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Overall performance against national indicators, including those for staying safe and enjoying and achieving, is above or in line with similar areas and the position nationally. Performance against staying safe indicators is mostly good and almost all initial assessment of needs is completed promptly. However, the proportion of referrals of children in need that underwent an initial assessment by children’s social care is lower than comparators. The stability of foster care placements is lower than average relative to similar area and national comparators. Achievement at age five is above similar area averages and at age 11 it is in line and improving. At age 16, whilst achievement is improving, it remains below that of similar areas. Achievement gaps between children and young people from low income families and their peers, or between those with special educational needs and others, are mostly the same as

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

or narrower than seen in similar areas or nationally. The inequality gap with regards to young people from low income families who progress to higher education is significantly narrower than seen in similar areas or nationally.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The children’s services rating is provided for the purpose of section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. The rating of local authority children’s services will contribute significantly to the managing performance theme of each local authority’s Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) organisational assessment and therefore to the score for each local authority overall.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Juliet Winstanley Divisional Manager, CAA

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